Sculling oar assembly



Nov. 1, 1966 H. G. SOLOMON SCULLING OAR ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 24, 1964INVENTOR.

HUBERT G, SOLOMON ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,281,875 SCULLKNG OARASSEMBLY Hubert G. Solomon, 9717 Halsey Road, .lacksonville, Fla. FiledAug. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 391,397 5 Claims. (Cl. 926) This inventionrelates to sculling oars and more particularly to a novel and improvedmeans for mounting a sculling oar on a boat.

Various types of sculling oar assemblies have been proposed forpropelling small boats. One such device is shown in Patent No. 2,507,469issued May 9, 1950. While such prior devices may prove to besatisfactory from the standpoint that they will propel a boat, they alsohave certain disadvantages. For example, sculling oars are often used ona boat also provided with an outboard motor. The outboard motor may beused to move the boat substantial distances between given areas, whilethe sculling oar is used to move the boat short distances about onegiven area. Unless the sculling oar is unshipped while the boat is beingpropelled by the motor, the oar may be damaged. In prior scullingdevices, it has been diflicult to ship and unship the car thusdetracting from the ease of use of the devices. Further, for variousreasons, it is desirable to be able to vary the vertical position of theoar relative to the support means mounting the same on the boat. Forexample, sculling oars are often mounted on the transom of a boat.Inasmuch as transoms vary in height from one boat to another, and it isdesirable to be able to use the assembly on a variety of boats, it isdesirable, if not necessary, to be able to adjust the vertical positionof the oar to accommodate the oar to various transom heights.

Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a novel andimproved sculling oar assembly wherein the oar may be more easilyshipped and unshipped without detaching from the boat the means forsupporting the oar on the boat.

It is another object of this invention to provide a sculling oarassembly in which the oar may be mounted in a selected one of aplurality of vertically spaced positions relative to the means formounting the oar on a boat.

The objects of the invention are achieved in a sculling oar assemblycomprising a socket adapted to be supported on a boat outboard of thetransom or gunwale of the boat. The socket has an opening longitudinallythrough which extends the loom of an oar. The loom is rotatablysupported on the socket by a ring telescopically received in the socket.The oar is pivotally mounted on the ring for movement about a selectedone of a plurality of axes extending laterally of the loom. The socketis provided with a slot extending longitudinally through the socket andlaterally through the socket intersecting at one end with the socketopening receiving the loom of the oar. The ring and socket are separableby moving the ring axially of the socket, and the loom is laterallymovable through the slot in the socket, whereby the oar may be readilyshipped and unshipped.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of thisinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and method ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a sculling oar assembly constructedin accordance with the present in- Vention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view, partly in section, of the sculling oarassembly of FIG. 1; and

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FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view substantially along theline 33 of FIG. 2.

With reference to the drawing, a sculling oar assembly constructed inaccordance with the present invention comprises a socket or base member10 which in the preferred embodiment comprises a generally cylindricalmember 12. The member 12 is provided at its lower end with a radiallyinwardly extending lip or flange 14. In accordance with one aspect ofthe invention, the flange 14 and the cross-section of the cylindricalmember 12 are generally C-shaped to provide the socket with a slot 13extending longitudinally therethrough. The slot 13 also communicatesbetween the exterior of the socket and the opening through the socketdefined by the inner diameter of the cylindrical member 12 and flange14. As can be seen from the drawing, the slot 13 extends less than aboutthe axis of the cylindrical member 12. Coaxially and telescopicallyreceived within the opening in the socket 10 is a ring 16. The ring issupported vertically on the flange 14 which forms a shoulder on thesocket facing axially upwardly ofthe cylindrical member 12. The ring 16is freely insertable within and withdrawable from the socket by movingthe ring axially of the opening in the socket. The ring 16 preferablyclosely fits within the cylindrical member 12 while at the same time thering is supported on the socket for rotation of the ring 16 about theaxis of the opening in the socket.

Extending in radially inwardly spaced relation to and axially throughthe ring 16 and the opening in the socket 10 is the loom 18 of an oar.The oar has a handle 20 at one end of the loom and a blade 22 carried atthe lower end of the loom. The upper end of the blade is pivotallymounted on the loom as by a hinge 23 for movement about an axisextending laterally of the loom. Suitable means are provided to preventmovement of the blade in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1beyond a position wherein the loom and blade lie in generally parallelplanes. Also, it is preferable to provide leaf springs 24 or the like onthe loom and engaged with the blade to bias the blade toward theposition wherein it extends parallel to the loom.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention the loom is providedwith a plurality of openings 26 extending laterally through the loom andspaced apart longitudinally thereof. The loom is pivotally mounted onthe ring 16 by means of a pin or pivot member 28 which is receivable ineach of the openings 26. The pin 18 is inserted through a selected oneof the openings 26 in the loom and is engaged in a pair of diametricallyopposed aligned openings in the ring. The oar is thus pivotable relativeto the ring about an axis extending laterally of the loom and at rightangles to the axis of the opening in the socket 10 about which the ringis rotatable.

Extending from the socket 10 are a pair of parallel arms 30. The arms 30are rigidly connected at one end to the socket. The other ends of thearms are juxtaposed with the ends of a second pair of parallel arms 32.The other ends of the arms 32 are rigidly connected to a C- clamp or thelike 34 which, as clearly shown in FIG. 1, provides a means fordetachably mounting the socket 10 on the transom or side of a boat. Theoverlapped ends of the arms 30, 32 are provided with aligned openings inwhich is received the shank of a thumbscrew 36. The thumbscrew has ashoulder bearing upon the side of arm 32 opposite the arm 30. The shankof the thumbscrew is rotatably received in the opening in the arm 32which is smooth walled and is threadably engaged in the opening in thearm 30. Accordingly, the thumbscrew and open ings in the arms providemeans pivotally connecting the ends of the arms 30, 32 whereby the arm30 may be tilted relative to the arm 32. At the same time the thumbscrewprovides means for clamping or locking the arms in adjusted position.

In use the device is mounted on either the transom or gunwale of theboat by means of the clamp 34. They arms 30 are adjusted so that thesocket is lying generally parallel to the surface of the water orperhaps is inclined upwardly so as to face somewhat toward the portionof the boat on which the device is mounted. The ring 16 is placed overthe oar and the pin or pintle 28 is inserted into one of the sideopenings in the ring. The pin 28 is extended through a selected one ofthe openings 26 in the loom 18 of the oar and into the other sideopening in the ring 16. The pintle may fit in any of the openings 26thus permitting adjustment of the spacing of the blade 22 from thesocket to accommodate the device to the height of the transom or gunwaleof the particular boat on which the device is mounted. After the ringhas been mounted on the loom 18, the oar is positioned with the ring 16above the socket 10 and the loom is'then laterally moved through theslot 13 in the socket to position the loom centrally of the socket andposition the ring concentrically of the socket. The oar is then loweredto seat the ring 16 in the socket 10. As will be apparent from theforegoing, the loom 18 has a width over at least a portion of its lengthwhich is less than the width of the slot 13 in the socket so that theloom may be passed freely through the slot.

The operator may then propel the boat merely by manipulating the handle20 of the oar in a generally forward and rearward direction relative tothe boat. When it is desired to turn the boat the rotatable mounting ofthe ring 16 in the socket permits the blade of the oar to be inclinedtoward one of the other sides of the boat whereupon pivoting of the oarabout the axis of the pintle 28 will effect a change in direction ofmovement of the boat. When it is desired to unship the oar the oar ismerely lifted to separate the ring 16 and socket 10 and the 100mlaterally moved through the slot 13 in the socket whereupon the oar maybe lifted aboard the boat.

The socket of the preferred embodiment has been shown as comprising agenerally C-shaped side wall 12 and bottom flange 14 both of whichprovide uninterrupted bearing surfaces except for the slot through whichthe loom is moved. However, either or both of the members could befabricated so as to comprise a plurality of parti-cylindrical or arcuatemembers spaced apart about the axis of the socket. F or example theflange 14 instead of being C-shaped could be a series of tabs or thelike extending radially inwardly from the underside of theparti-cylindrical member 12 and spaced about the axis thereof.Correspondingly, lateral bearing support for the ring 16 could beprovided by plurality of parti-cylindrical members extending upwardlyfrom the flange 14 and spaced angularly about the axis of the socket.

Therefore while only a certain preferred embodiment of this inventionhas been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be apparentthat many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and itis, therefore, desired that it be understood that it is intended in theappended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is:

1. In a sculling oar assembly an oar having a loom, means for supportingthe oar on a boat for movement of the oar about a pair of mutuallyperpendicular axes comprising a pair of axially separable telescopicallyarranged members, said loom extending through and being carried by theinner one of said pair of members, the outer member of said pair beingprovided with a slot extending laterally thereof and longitudinallytherethrough and having a width sufficient to permit passage of saidloom therethrough, whereby the oar may be unshipped by moving the oaraxially of said pair of members to separate the same and then laterallymoving the loom through said slot without disassembling said loom fromsaid inner one of said pair of members.

2. In a sculling oar assembly, an oar having a loom, means forsupporting the ear on a boat comprising a socket having an openingthrough which said loom extends in radially inwardly spaced relation, aring disposed over said loom and telescopically and rotatably receivedin said socket, and cooperable means on the ring and loom pivotallymounting the oar for movement about an axis extending laterally of theloom, said socket being provided with a slot extending therethrough inthe direction of the axis of said opening and extending from saidopening laterally of the socket to communicate outwardly thereof, atleast a portion of said loom having a width less than the width of saidslot whereby the oar may be unshipped by axially separating said ringand socket and then laterally moving the loom through said slot withoutdisassembling said loom from said ring.

3. In a sculling oar assembly, an oar having a loom, means forsupporting the oar on a boat comprising a socket having an openingthrough which said loom extends in radially inwardly spaced relation, aring disposed over said loom and telescopically and rot-atably receivedin said socket, and adjustable cooperable means on the ring and loom forpivotally mounting the oar on the ring for movement about a selected oneof a plurality of axes extending laterally of said loom and spaced apartlongitudinally thereof, said ring and socket being axially separable,said socket being provided with a slot extending therethrough in thedirection of the axis of said opening and extending from said openinglaterally of the socket to communicate outwardly thereof, at least aportion of said loom havign a width less than the width of said slotwhereby the oar may be unshipped by axially separating said ring andsocket and then laterally moving the loom through said slot withoutdisassembling said loom from said ring.

4. In a sculling oar assembly, a socket having an opening extendingtherethrough, means for mounting the socket on a boat with the socketdisposed outboard of the boat, a ring telescopically and rotatablyreceived in said socket, an oar having a loom extending through saidring in radially inwardly spaced relation, said ring having a pair ofdiametrically opposed aligned openings, said loom having a plurality ofopenings extending laterally therethrough and spaced apartlongitudinally thereof, and pivot pin extending through a selected oneof said openings in the loom and engaged at its ends in said openings inthe ring, said socket being provided with a slot extending therethroughin the direction of the axis of said opening in the socket andcommunicating at one end with said opening and at the other endoutwardly of said socket, at least a portion of said loom having a widthless than that of said slot, whereby the oar may be unshipped by movingthe same in a direction longitudinally of the axis of said opening inthe socket to separate said ring and socket and then laterally movingthe loom through said slot in the socket without removal of said pivotpin from said ring openings and said selected one of said openings insaid loom.

5. In a sculling oar assembly, an oar having a loom, a ring disposedabout said loom, means pivotally connecting the ring and the loom formovement of the loom relative to the ring about an axis extendinglaterally of the loom, a socket in which said ring is telescopicallyreceivable and supported, said socket having an opening through whichsaid loom extends in radially inwardly spaced relation, said socketfurther being provided with a slot extending generally laterally of saidopening and through the socket member, said loom being laterally movablethrough said slot, and means for mounting said socket on a boat with thesocket disposed outboard of the boat including a support member havingmeans for releasably securing the same to a boat and including means fortilt- .5 6 ing said socket and locking the same in a selected one :of985,049 2/1911 Mel'bye 9-26 a plurality of tilted positions. 2,507,4695/ 1950 Hanson 9-26 X 2,548,407 4/ 1951 Tabbert 924 X References Citedby the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 MILTON BUCHLER, PrimaryExaminer.

27 220 4 1 3 Bond 9 26 ALFRED E. CORRIGAN, Examiner.

1. IN A SCULLING OAR ASSEMBLY AN OAR HAVING A LOOM, MEANS FOR SUPPORTINGTHE OAR ON A BOAT FOR MOVEMENT OF THE OAR ABOUT A PAIR OF MUTUALLYPERPENDICULAR AXES COMPRISING A PAIR OF AXIALLY SEPARABLE TELESCOPICALLYARRANGED MEMBERS, SAID LOOM EXTENDING THROUGH AND BEING CARRIED BY THEINNER ONE OF SAID PAIR OF MEMBERS, THE OUTER MEMBER OF SAID PAIR OFBEING PROVIDED WITH A SLOT EXTENDING LATERALLY THEREOF ANDLONGITUDINALLY THERETHROUGH AND HAVING A WIDTH SUFFICIENT TO PERMITPASSAGE OF SAID LOOM THERETHROUGH, WHEREBY THE OAR MAY BE UNSHIPPED BYMOVING THE OAR AXIALLY OF SAID PAIR OF MEMBERS TO SEPARATE THE SAME ANDTHEN LATERALLY MOVING THE LOOM THROUGH SAID SLOT WITHOUT DISASSEMBLINGSAID LOOM FROM SAID INNER ONE OF SAID PAIR OF MEMBERS.